Thomas millen



No. 608,6!8. Patented Aug. 9, 1393:. T. MILLEN.

CAR STEP LIFTER.

(Application filed Many, 1598.)

(No Model.)

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TnoMAs MILLEN, on NEW YoRK, N. Y.

CAR STEP LIFTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 608,618 dated August 9, 1898. Application filed March 2, 1898. Serial No. 672,224. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS MILLEN, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Car- Step Lifters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to what may be termed car-step liftersin other words, a device which is situated at the front .or rear platform of a street-car and so arranged as to fold the lower step on that side of the car which is not in use, as will be hereinafter explained.

111 the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, my invention is fully illustrated, with similar letters of reference to indicate corresponding parts, as follows:

Figure 1 represents a view looking toward the end of the car, showing the lifting device in side elevation and end view of the step a, the step being down and in position for use. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the step raised and folded against the step-hanger h as it will appear when not in use. Fig. 3 represents a side view of the lift-arm 0, showing the manner in which the handle 0 is placed over the hook p, situated on the inside of the dashboard 7a. 1

It has been the custom heretofore to fold the steps up by hand and fasten them with a hook at each end of the route, it being necessary for obvious reasons to have the step on the inside of the car (that side which passes the opposite-going car) folded up outof the way, so as to give more space between two passing cars, and is also quite necessary at times when passing trucks or wagons in crowded thoroughfares to close the outside stepuntil the vehicle or obstacle which may be in close proximity is passed, and then lower the step again. 7

The construction of my device is to place a hanger, as 6, under the platform A of the car and to provide two geared segments, as m and at, one of which, as m, is trunnioned to the hanger e at e and is provided with a projecting arm, as g, to which the lift 0 is attached, as at c. The opposite geared segment at is trunnioned, as at d, to the step-hanger b, the two geared portions ofthe segments being meshed together between the hanger e and the step hanger b, as illustrated. The geared segment a cured. Thus it will be seen from the drawings that when the step is down in a position for use the geared segments will be elevated with their lower edges, as at c, Fig. 1, closed together. It will also be seen, as in Fig. 2, that when the lift 0 is drawn upward the two geared segments will be rotated downward, and this action will throw the arm LL and step up to a vertical position against the stephanger b.

On the front of the dash h, as shown in Fig. 3, a hook, as p, is provided, upon which the handle, as of the lift 0, is placed when it is desired to hold the step folded up against the hangers b as in the position shown in Fig. 2.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1. In a car-step-lifting device the geared segments 12 provided with the arm a upon which the step rests, suitably trunnioned to the step-hanger h in combination with the geared segment m, carrying the extended arm g, the lift 0 suitably trunnioned thereto, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a car-step-lifting device the geared segment m provided withthe extended arm g and trunnioned to the hanger e in combina tion with a geared segment at trunnioned to the step-hanger b and provided with the arm it upon which the step a rests, all as and for .the purpose specified.

3. In a car-step-lifting device the geared segment 02 provided with the projecting arm a and step a, said segment being trunnioned to the step-hanger b, in combination with the geared segment m trunnioned to the hanger c and provided with the extended arm 9 engagin g with the lift 0, and suitable device as hook 1) provided on the dashboard of the car for holding the same, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing i1nprovement in car-step lifters as above doscribedlhave hereunto set myhand this 21st day of February, 1898.

THOMAS MILLEN.

Witnesses:

E. W. PERRY, ELLA WARNER. 

